Self-service checkout terminal having a biometric sensing device for verifying identity of a user and associated method

摘要

A self-service checkout terminal includes an input device for receiving a user reported identity code associated with a user of the checkout terminal and a biometric sensing device for detecting a biometric characteristic of the user. The self-service checkout terminal also includes a processing unit electrically coupled to both the input device and the biometric sensing device. Moreover, the self-service checkout terminal includes a memory device electrically coupled to the processing unit. The memory device has stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processing unit, causes the processing unit to (i) retrieve a user biometric profile which corresponds to the user reported identity code, (ii) detect if the user enters a restricted item into the checkout terminal and generate a restricted-item control signal in response thereto, and (iii) compare the user biometric profile with the biometric characteristic and generate an identity-verified control signal if the user biometric profile matches the biometric characteristic. A method of operating a self-service checkout terminal is also disclosed.